So, a family member will be visiting Hong Kong soon. What should I request? I’ve heard that it’s a gadget lover’s paradise- but what in specific? I could use a new cell phone, but would the ones bought there work here? Help me out!
Not sure about electronics but you can get a suit made cheap and quick. If you can get yourself measured up you could try and send the measurements with your relative.
I just got back from Hong Kong a little more than a month ago. I heard the same before I went, that it was a fantastic place to pick up electronics, but isn’t the case. At least not any more. The main reason that the gadgetry was so cheap in years past, as I understand it, was due to the overwhelming prevalence of bootlegs and cheap knock-offs. However, the Chinese government has been trying to gain legitimacy in the eyes of the global economic community and so has come down very hard on this practice, driving prices to be about equivalent to what you’d find in the US, if not higher.
Cell phones in particular carried a higher price, though that seems to be less influenced by the government crackdown as it is the difference in their cell service is structured; while in the US cell phones are usually bundled with a service plan at a discount, in Hong Kong a phones is bought first and a SIM card is picked up from the local 7/11 (which are everywhere! Along with McDonalds and Starbucks…) and service is provided through that like a calling card.
Still, it seems that the newest gadgets are distributed to Asia before they make their way to America, so if you like being on the bleeding edge you might still find something worthwhile. If so, be aware that Hong Kong uses AC 220 electric outlets, compared to the, IIRC, AC 120 standard here, so if your new toy requires a charger then a US compatible one will probably need to bought upon return, assuming that it supports the US standard at all. Everything I saw was cross compatible, but make sure your relative asks before paying.
As Sage Rat mentions clothes are still a safe bet, especially if you’re into either designer or custom-made clothing. Due to timing issues I wasn’t able to get a suit custom-tailored as I had hoped, though I was able to pick up one off the rack for about US$75. Even better was that it actually fit my 5’6" frame, a delightful change from what I’m used to. That could be worth considering as well – if you’re towards the upper end of the scale in America, you might be off of it in Hong Kong, and your relative might have difficulty finding something in your size if you want off-the-shelf.
Another possible route is to get some jade, as a carved figurine or jewelry. One benefit of going that route is that since there’s such a wide variety of pieces available that you could set your price then find something that catches your relative’s interest that falls under that. Of course, that’s also dependent on how well your relative knows your tastes. I’d stick to the fairly low end of the price range here too, unless your relative happens to know how to differentiate jade quality – I as was led to believe that it’s not uncommon for some of the more expensive pieces to be glass, injected to change it’s relative color, or otherwise faked. FWIW, the higher quality pieces should be slightly transparent and milky green in color, though in truth I liked the look of the more common, cheaper dark green colored pieces anyway.
A neat souvenir is a chop, a small column of carved stone where they’ll engrave your name on one end, translated into Chinese characters, so that you can use it to stamp your translated name onto documents, drawings, or anything else you’d deign to sign. I believe getting a holding box and a small helping of some sort of waxy ink is standard. The best place to get these is in Man Wa Lane, also known appropriately enough as Chop Street, just outside the Sheung Wan MTR station. My biggest complaint is that when they translated my name, they would only do so phonetically, not by meaning. Booo. That could have been that I went in outside of the normal tourist season, so only one of the stalls was open. Perhaps if I more choices, the engraver would have been more willing to accommodate me.
Hmm… that’s all off the top of my mind. If anything else comes to mind I’ll come back to put it down.
It ain’t the paradise it used to be (if it was ever really a paradise). Any “deals” are dependant on you really knowing the price and model number. bait and switch being an art form in hk.
FWIW, Sony ships new models to Japan first, China second, and other markets after that.
The key really is that the prices you pay for electronic goods are pretty much the same as at home - but you’re likely to get newer models of the Japanese stuff - maybe a model that’s not going to arrive where you are for antoher year. Also remember you can bargain in department stores, in fact most anywhere - but do it with good humor and allow the vendor to retain face.
Do NOT be tempted to buy any electronics in Nathan Road from anywhere other than an electronics chain such as Fortress. The prices look incredible, but 99% of the stores there are a scam, that pull the bait-and-switch method. It’s happened to me - “I’d like to buy that camera,” for an insanely low price. “OK,” says the guy. “It’s in our warehouse. Please wait while my colleague goes and gets one. Ten minutes.” During those ten minutes he will show you the model up from what you’ve chosen, and give you a captive pitch - then the other guy will return (from the back room probably) with the news that they’re out of stock. The salesman sees the look of disappointment on your face and offers you a small discount on the camera he’s been bigging up. You walk out with a camera you didn’t want, for more than you wanted to pay. Except I was wise to it, so walked out.
Avoid getting a ‘copy watch’ on Nathan Road. Rip off stuff, low quality, and likely to get you in trouble with the law or Rolex or whoever.
The Granville Road area has a lot of very cheap clothing, some of it being designer seconds with no labels, some of it own-brand.
For cheap and quirky Chinese crafts and electronics, there are several Chinese government-owned department stores in Wanchai and Causeway bay that are good for a laugh.
Finally, the second hand market is good for stuff. Computer Star City by the Star Ferry in Tsimshatsui has a lot of bargains, as do the electronics markets in Mong Kok. Which is also where you’ll find knock-off fake memory cards and the like. Caveat emptor.
Electronics are not cheap, and they won’t work over here without an adaptor. It’s not worth it in my opinion.
Hong Kong has mid to high end clothing, jewelry, and accessories at good prices. There are also some outstanding tailors.